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POVEȘTI ÎN BUCATE Muscel / STORIES & BITES in Muscel – A Participatory Experience

In the heart of Câmpulung, under the shade of the “Merci” Public Garden, a community gathered on June 2, 2024, for a unique celebration of memory and identity. The participatory audio installation “Povești în Bucate” conceived turned the park into a living archive of voices and stories, amplified through the hum of portable radios tuned to Muscel FM, the main partner of my piece.

This project is not just a standalone event but a continuation of a journey that began in 2023 with the pilot exhibition of “Povești în Bucate” in Timișoara, as part of its role as the European Capital of Culture. That initial iteration laid the foundation for what has now evolved into a richer, more immersive experience, deeply rooted in the Muscel region’s culinary and cultural tapestry.

From Timișoara to Câmpulung: Expanding the Narrative

The 2023 pilot explored how food and memory intertwine, unveiling stories behind traditional dishes and the ways they encapsulate familial bonds, historical transitions, and cultural identity. This first chapter served as a reflective homage to the artist’s personal history, inspired by the recipe notebook of her late mother, Adriana. That notebook became a vessel for both remembrance and reconnection, transforming everyday meals into profound narratives.


Building on this, the Câmpulung installation extended the scope, embracing the voices of 21 individuals from diverse backgrounds within the Muscel area. Over April and May 2024, Cinty conducted interviews that delved into the intricate interplay between memory and gastronomy—a collective exploration of how food preserves not only recipes but also the socio-cultural and emotional layers of a community.

A Participatory Experience

On June 2, the Grădina Publică “Merci” became a stage for communal listening. Residents brought their battery-powered radios, turning the park into a vibrant soundscape. This participatory element was integral to the project’s ethos, symbolizing how shared stories resonate louder when amplified together.


Listeners tuned in to Muscel FM to hear the carefully curated audio pieces, each one a fragment of Muscel’s culinary and personal heritage. From childhood memories of kitchen rituals to reflections on historical shifts impacting local gastronomy, these narratives painted a vivid portrait of the region’s identity.

Memory, Identity, and Culinary Heritage:

“Povești în Bucate” does more than document recipes; it examines the broader context in which they exist. It investigates how food acts as a cultural touchstone, revealing layers of individual and collective histories shaped by social stratification, industrial shifts, and historical events. As Cinty notes, “Each personal story tied to the ritual of preparing food creates a cultural, social, and historical context, offering a microcosm of societal narratives.”
Through these stories, the project unpacks how culinary practices become vessels of memory, carrying forward traditions while adapting to the ever-changing landscape of identity and culture.

As “Povești în Bucate” continues to evolve, it reaffirms the power of storytelling in fostering connections. The Câmpulung iteration not only honored the Muscel community’s heritage but also set the stage for future explorations of how food unites us across time and space.


This journey is far from over. From Timișoara’s multimedia exhibition to Câmpulung’s participatory installation, the project exemplifies the richness of local histories and their capacity to resonate universally. By inviting communities to take part, Cinty Ionescu has created more than an installation; she has cultivated a living dialogue about who we are and how we remember.

Credits:

Concept, documentation, and production: Cinty Ionescu
Poster design and photos: David Grohe
Additional photos: Marius Tudose
Produced as part of Accelerator Câmpulung, supported by Asociația Narative
Partners: Muscel FM, Cafeneaua Coloniale

Special Thanks:

A heartfelt thank you to the 21 individuals whose voices brought “Povești în Bucate” to life: Amandine Bănescu, Laurențiu Bănescu, Carmen Victoria Bârloiu, Liviu Cojocaru, Gilda Crăciun, Ion Gagea, Rodica Goran, Claudiu Grosu, Emil Hagi, Elena Lasconi, Corina Moldovan-Florea, Sergiu Negulici, Ioana Nicoară, Cristina Nicula, Mirela Onea, Ema Popa, Adrian Săvoiu, Radu Stănescu, Zelmira Szabo, Marius Tudose, Bogdan Vișoiu.

My gratitude to the Muscel community for their warmth, openness, and participation. Together, we have amplified stories that deserve to be heard—loud and clear.